Animated blockbuster "Ne Zha 2" has become the first Chinese film to gross 10 billion yuan (about 1.37 billion U.S. dollars) in total global earnings, including presales, crossing the benchmark on Thursday, according to data from ticketing platform Maoyan.
This milestone achievement, obtained on the 16th day after the film's release on the Chinese New Year on Jan. 29, adds to a growing list of records it had made. "Ne Zha 2" had already become the first film to gross 1 billion U.S. dollars in a single market and also the first non-Hollywood title to join the coveted billion-dollar club.
In addition to the audience members who have watched the film multiple times, "Ne Zha 2" has also attracted a significant number of new viewers and brought back many long-time absentees from the cinema. "Actually, I might not have gone to see a movie in the past few years. This one ("Ne Zha 2") is so popular that my friends and colleagues all know about this film," said Zhang Leyuan, a viewer in Beijing.
"In terms of popularity, I'm actually very confident. We got off to a good start. Therefore, we are very confident in the future film market and believe that more citizens will come to the cinemas to watch movies," said Shen Yan, manager of a cinema in Guangzhou City.
A follow-up to animated sensation "Ne Zha," which grossed five billion yuan (about 0.69 billion U.S. dollars) and topped the Chinese box office chart in 2019, the sequel has captivated audiences with not only its breathtaking visuals, but also its rich storytelling and deep cultural resonance.
"According to data released by the box office tracker Beacon, the proportion of viewers aged 30-39 for 'Nezha: Demon Child Conquers the Sea' exceeds 42 percent, which is particularly outstanding compared to the market average. This shows that the film has expanded the range of audience for animated films. Additionally, the film's impressive performance has attracted a large number of new viewers, who have become a new vitality in the film market. Currently, the percentage of new viewers for the film is also the highest among new releases during this year's Spring Festival holiday," said Chen Jin, a film data analyst in Beijing.
The sequel continues the story of the iconic character Nezha, a rebellious boy-god from Chinese mythology. Set after the events of the first film, it follows Nezha and Aobing as their souls are saved but their physical forms face dissolution. With the help of the immortal Taiyi Zhenren, who uses the Seven-Colored Lotus to reconstruct their bodies, the two heroes must face numerous challenges.
The film's exploration of universal themes, such as defiance in the face of power, the struggle against fate, and embracing self-confidence, has struck a chord with the viewers.
"Ne Zha 2" becomes first Chinese film to gross 10 bln yuan
